What is percentage increase?
Compare original and new values to understand how much a quantity grew in percentage terms.
Percentage increase measures how much a value grew compared with its original value. It does not only show the number of units added; it shows how large that change is relative to the starting point.
The formula is:
(new value - original value) / original value x 100Quick example
If a subscription goes from $200 to $250:
(250 - 200) / 200 x 100 = 25%The price increased by $50, but the percentage increase is 25%.
Why the original value matters
The same absolute increase can be small or large depending on the starting value. Going from $1,000 to $1,050 is a 5% increase. Going from $100 to $150 is a 50% increase.
That is why percentages are useful: they make changes easier to compare across values of different sizes.
If you want to review the core formula first, start with how to calculate percentages.
What if the result is negative?
When the new value is smaller than the original value, the same formula returns a negative number. In that case, you are calculating a percentage decrease.
For example, going from 100 to 80 gives:
(80 - 100) / 100 x 100 = -20%That means the value decreased by 20%.
Calculate it automatically
Use the percentage calculator and choose the percentage change mode. Enter the original value and the new value, and the calculator will show the change and the difference.